Variable spacing mechanism for typewriters



' Mrch 27, 1945. J.L WEBB 2,372,619

VARIABLE SPACING MECHANISM FOR J JYPEWRITERS Filed Margh 30, 19.43 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m I I a l\ m Q March 5- ;J. L. wEB'B 2,372,619 VARIABLE. SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEQRITERS Filed Mafchd o, 1945' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1945. J. WEBB 2,372,619

' VARIABLE SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS J. L. WEBB March 2-7, 1945.

vARiABLE' SPAGING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERS 5 sh ets-sheet 4 Filed March 30, 1943 w w w 4 w flmlar In 3 m /wj 0 1 7 3 5 A: Z 4 PO 6 6 a W.

4, f w/ l I J a March 1, 9 J. L. WEBB 2,372,619

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with an' embodiment of the invention. -.Figure 2 is a, view in rear elevation of the struc- Patented Mar. 27, 1945 I n VARIABLE SlACING MECHANISM F OR TYPEWRITERS James L. Webb, Gainesville, Tex. Application March 30, 1943, Serial No. 481,-130 i 10 Claims. (01; 197 -34 s This invention relates to a variable spacing mechanism for typewriters, andit is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this kind wherein the mechanism is under control of a universal-spacing bar which is automatically raised and'lowered in its spacing position by the mechanism which shifts the typewriter carriage for printing lower case letters and capital letters.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this kind includinga universal spacing bar which is moved varying distances as I determined by the pressure of the varying con-' tours of the heels of the type bars as such type bars are thrown into printing position by the operatorstriking thejkeysof the typewriter.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a mechanism by meansof which the carriage or platen of a typewriter will move varying distances as the keys and type bars are operated according to thesizes of the letters or characters printed instead of moving the platen alwaysia fixed distance as is done in typewriters now generallyin use. I

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved variable spacing mechanism for typewriters whereby certain important advantages are attained, as

will behereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better un derstood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein: i i Figure l is a fragmentary view in top plan illustratin aa mechanism constructed in v accordanc ture as illustrated in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on'the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direc- Figure 8 is a view of the universal spacing bar, unapplied. i i 31 Figure 9 is a'fragmentary detail view, partly iii-elevation and partlyin; section,'showing the heel portion of a type bar;

Figure 10 is a View in elevation of the segment blockas comprised in the structure of the type writer, said blockbeing' unapplied, and

Figure 11 is a View in perspective illustrating another embodiment of the'invention.

-As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, B denotes a type bar hearing or" segment block as comprised, in' the structure of typewriters now well known in use and which has its lower arcuate marginal portion provided with properly spaced slots l in each of'which is received the heel portion 2 of a a type bar 3. Each of these type bars 3 is pivotally connected with a pivot rod, 4 arranged within a channel 5 in the lower arcuate marginal portion of the hearing or block B and concentric to the lower arcuate edge of said bearing or block B.

@Thischannel 5, as clearly illustratedin Figure 10, intersects the slots! adjacent the outer ends thereof, while intersecting the rear portions of the slot l is a second channel 6 provided in the hearing or block .13 and which channel is concentric to the channel 5. material width to allow the universal spacing bar (therein to be raised or lowered in its spacing position by the usual mechanism which shifts the typewriter carriage for printing lower letters and capital letters.

Z Thisbar l is alsoadapted to'beshifted laterally when 'in either its raised or lowered position a distance determined by the rounded upper edges 8 and 9 of the heel portion 2 of the type bar 3 as "the 'bar 3 rises to printing position. The edge tion of the arrows and showing the parts in the upper case shift position.

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view'taken substantially on the line 4-4 of'Figure 3, looking inthe dire'c'tionof the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation,'with portions broken away-,' showing in de-' tail certain-details of construction.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially." on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, looking in thedirecti'on of the arrows.

1 Figure '7 isa detailed sectional view, with parts inp1an,'the section being also substantially on,

the line 6- 6 of Figure 5.

8 is effective when the bar 1 is in its lowered position andthe edge 9vis effective when the bar 7 is in its raised position.

The bar T at desired points inwardly of its endsfhasrigid therewith the rearwardly disposed elongated arms It, the outer or free end, portions of which are pivotally connected, as at H, with the outstanding arms 12 carried by and at the opposite sides of the flat frame I l. The inner or forward end of this frame I74 at a desired point intermediate its ends is provided with the outstanding and coplanar flat extension arm 15 which enters the properly positioned slot I6 in the hearing or segment block B; This arm 15 coaots withbthe block B to holdthe frame 14 in perfect alignment. 7

The escapenient mechanism propercomprlses This channel 6 is of a a main plate |1 provided at its top and to one side thereof with a single cog stop I3 which coacts with the conventional star wheel I9 which controls the lateral motion of the typewriter carriage. This plate I1 is supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis in the main frame 29 of the escapement mechanism by the 24 which is freely disposed through an elongated,

slot 25 disposed longitudinally of a slide member or plate 26 having close contact with the upper portion of the outer surface of the plate I1. This block 24 has its outer longitudinal margins defined by the outstanding flanges 21 for coaction with the outer face of the applied plate 26 and thus provide means for holding said plate in applied or working positionyet permitting the same to freely move lengthwise. The plate 25 at the end portion thereof adjacent to the cog stop H3 is provided with the upstanding stop finger 28 for coaction with the star wheel l9, as will later be pointed out.

The lower portion of the plate 26 remote from the cog stop l8 and the stop finger 28 is cut away to provide the stepped shoulders herein disclosed as three in number and identified by the numerals 29, 30 and 3|. These shoulders 29, 30 and 3| are, of course, spaced lengthwise of the plate 26 along the lower margin thereof, with the outer shoulder innermost.

Selectively engageable with these shoulders 29, 33 and 3| is the inwardly and laterally disposed flat lug 32 carried by and coplanar with the upper portion of the flat stop plate 3'3 positioned adjacent the outer face of the plate l1 and free for movement in a vertical direction. The side edges of this movable plate 33 are straight and in parallelism, the outer edge 34 coacting with the adjacent lug 22 of the plate |1 while the inner edge 35 has contact with an outstanding pin 36 carried by the plate l1 at a point in relatively close proximity to the applied plate 26.

The pin 36 and the lug 22 between which the plate 33 is positioned and travels serve to maintain the plate 33 in its effective position so that the same can have the desired up and down movement. This plate 33 is constantly urged upwardly by the retractile member 31, herein shown as a coiled spring, having one end portion suitably anchored, as at 38, to the movable plate 33 and its opposite end portion suitably connected, as

at 39, to the lug 22 which provides a guide for said plate 33.

The plate 26 is constantly urged toward the plate 33 by the retractile member 49, also herein disclosed as a coiled spring, having one end portion suitably anchored to an outstanding lug 4| carried by the lower portion of the plate 26 adja-- cent to the end thereof remote from the plate 33. The opposite end portion of this retractile member 49 is suitably secured to an outstanding lug 42 carried by the plate H at a desired point above the adjacent lug 22.

Pivotally connected, as at 43, to the lower portion of the plate 33 is an extremity of a substantially horizontally disposed rock arm 44having its central portion pivotally connected, as at 45, to a depending flat lug 46 carried by the plate l1. The free end portion of this arm 44, or that end portion remote from the pivotal connection 43, overlies and is positioned in constant contact with a forwardly disposed short arm 41. This arm 41 is arcuate in form, as particularly illustrated in Figure 3, and is forwardly and upwardly disposed and has its lower end portion suitably anchored, as at 48, to an arm 49 depending from the lower cross arm 59 of the rocker frame 5|. As clearly illustrated in Figure 3, this arm 41 is flat and has its upper free end portion formed to provide a relatively long and slightly inbow contacting edge 52 with which the rock arm 44 directly contacts. The cross member 59 of this rocker frame 5| is held between the pins 53 carried by the main frame 29, or more particularly the outstanding brackets 54 carried by said main frame ata desired point below the plate II The upper cross member 55 of the rocker frame 5| extends outwardly beyond the opposite sides thereof and has pivotally connected therewith the outer or free end portions of the arms l2 carried by the flat frame l4, so that as the frame I4 is moved or swung fore and aft, the upper portion of the rocker frame 5| will be correspondingly rocked or oscillated and the extent of this movement of the frame M will be determined by the throw of an edge 8 or 9 of the type bar 3 as it swings to strike or print.

When the operator strikes the required type key to operate the type bar 3 to throw the type bar up to printing position, the heel 2 of the type bar 3 makes a thrust with one of its edges 8 or 9 against the universal spacing bar 1 and this thrust is conveyed through the arms I0 to the flat frame l4 and through the arms l2 to the rocker frame 5|, moving it backward, of course, according to the length of the thrust of either of the edges 8 or 9.

During this backward movement of the rocker frame 5|, the short arm 41 swings upwardly against the adjacent end portion of the arm 44, resulting in downward movement of the stop plate 33. As this plate 33 passes below a shoulder 29 or 30, the spring 4|) will sharply move to the right the sliding plate 26. It is believed to be obvious that the extent of such movement of the plate 26 will'be dependent upon the extent of downward movement of the stop plate 33 as determined by the length of the thrust of an edge 8 or 9 upon the spacing bar 1. The extent of movement of this plate 26 determines the width of spacing according to the size of character to be printed and all of this is accomplished on the up-stroke of the type bar 3.

The completion of the spacing movement is accomplished on the back stroke, as the type bar 3 falls back to normal position and releases the pressure of its heel on an edge 8 or 9 against the universal spacing bar 1, thus allowing the spring 56 to return the fiat frame I4 and the spacing bar 1, together with the rocker frame 5|, to their normal positions. This spring 56 is herein disclosed as a coiled spring having one end portion anchored, as at 51, to the outer part of the frame l4 and the opposite end portion of the spring secured, as at 58, to the lower rear portion of the bearing or segment block B. As particularly illustrated in Figure 3 of the dzawings, this spring 56 underlies the fiat frame I In this return or back stroke of the rocker frame 5|, fiat frame I 4 and universal spacing bar 1, the collar 59 or other enlargement on the upper bar 55 of the rocker frame 5| presses against the p1ate26. and forces the stop finger 28 carried thereby: to engage a tooth of the star or escapement wheel l9 andat the same time pushes the cog stop 18 at the top of the main plate I'loutof mesh with the star or escapement wheel l9, ,Whenthis cogstop I8 is freedfrom the star or escapement wheel I9, thepullof the carriage return spring (not shown) rotates in a well known manner the star orescapement wheel l9, carrying the movable slide 26 forward orto the left until it strikes the beveled stop 60 suitably positioned on the main frame 20. I As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the left end portion of the plate 26 is provided with an upstanding lug or part 6| which has direct contact with the beveled stop 60. The force of contact of the lug or part 6! with the beveledstop .60 forces the stop finger 28 out of, mesh with the star or escapement wheel [9 and brings the cog stop It back into mesh with the star or escapement wheel l9, thus completing the spacing movement and holding the typewriter carriage in place until another type barkey is struck.

It is believed to be obvious that the distance the typewriter carriage moves laterally when a letter is printed is controlled by the length of the thrust of an edge 8 or 9 against the universal spacing bar 1 and by having the two edges 8 or 9 on the heel of each typebar and by shifting the spacing bar I up or down, two spacing distances maybe be made on the same type bar, as for a lower case letter and for the capital. of the same letter. I

I It is again pointed out that these varying thrusts are transmitted through the flat frame I4 and the rocker frame 5i to the escapement mechanism, releasing one, two or three teeth of the star wheel. It is also'to be stated that the normal position of the plate ll of the escape-.

ment mechanism is with the cog stop I8 in mesh with the star .wheel I9.

7 The movable or slide plate 26 normally stands in its extremely left positionfree of the star wheel 19 and held in such position by the stop plate 33 and being pulled up behind the last step or shoulder 29 by the spring 40. These several parts return to these positions after each spacing movement is completed. A p e The usual shifting bar 62 which supports the typewriter carriage and is connected in the usual manner (not shown) with the shift keys on the 'keyboard, is provided, at spaced points therealong and outwardly of the arms- 10, with the rearwardly disposed lugs 63 with which are pivotally connected the upper end portions of the substantially vertical bars 64 each of which has its lower end portion pivotally connected, as at 65, with a rearwardly disposed rock arm 66 carried by the rock shaft 61. This rock shaft 61 underlies the flat frame l4 and is rotatably supported by the upstanding arms 68 carried by the bracket plate 69 suitably anchored to the usual frame cross member comprised in the typewriter con- 'struction;

When the shifting bar 52 is raised by the operator depressing a shift key on thekeyboard, it automatically lowersthe; universal spacing bar 1 in its channel 6 through the medium of the additionalvertically disposed bars in each pivotally bodiment, but in lieuof the thrust edges 8 and 9 in the first embodiment of the invention, the uni-.

versal spacing bar has coacting therewith a vertically disposed link bar 15 for making the desired thrust against the spacing bar 14. In this embodiment of the invention, this bar 15 is provided with two projecting steps 16 for selective contactwith the adjacent edge of the bar I4, depending upon whether said bar 14 is at either its raised or lowered position.

The vertical bar 15 1s connected to a key bar 19. The universal space bar 14, is connected to the shift key bar, not shown, by the links 80.

The vertical member or bar 15 of each type bar assembly, swings on the fixed cross rod 8| and is attached at its lower end'by the obliquely directed'link 83't0 a key bar 19 as illustrated.-

. end of the rod 15 rearward. By this means a pull is applied to thelink H which connects the upper end of the bar 15 with the type bar 18-, causing the type bar to swing into printing position. In this motion the bar 15 also makes a thrust against the universal space bar 14. If the shift key, not shown, with which the universal space bar 14 is connected, is depressed, the shoulder 16 of the bar 15 makes a longer stroke of the universal bar 14. When the shift key, not shown, is not depressed, the lowerstep of bar member 15 strikes the universal bar, making a shorter thrust or stroke. Thus each key-on the keyboard is capable of making two distinct space thrusts. The bar 'I5'has,-0f course, to be individualized for each letter since some letters require the same space for both upper and lower case characters, as the figure 4 and the dollar sign on the same key, while'other letters'require triple variation as the lower case 1 and'the capital L.

From the foregoing description it'is thought to be obvious that a variable spacing mechanism for typewriters constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

' What is claimed is:

1.'A variable spacing mechanism for a typewriting machine having an escapement wheel for the movable carriage, a member supported for backward and forward movement transversely of the carriage, a spacing bar supported in position to be contacted by a type bar as the type bar swingsinto striking position for shifting the spacing bar in one direction, an operative connection between the spacing bar and the said member for movement one with the other, a vertically disposed rocker frame operatively connected with the member for movement therewith, a vertically disposedplate supported for swinging movement toward and from the escapement wheel, a cog stop carried by said plate for engagement with plate in one direction acrossthe swinging plate,

a stop plate carried by the swinging plate, and means operated by the rocker frame forshifting the stop plate a distance determined by the extent of swinging movement of the vertically disposed plate, said movable plate on the swinging plate having stepped shoulders with which the stop plate selectively engages as the stop plate is moved in a direction away from said movable plate.

2. A variable spacing mechanism as set forth in claim 1, further including means for constantly urging the member, spacing bar and the swinging plate forwardly.

3. In a typewriting machine having a carriageactuated rotatable escapement wheel and type barspivotally supported for swinging movement, means for effecting variable movement'of the carriage in accordance with different widths of characters carried by the bars comprising heels of different contours n the type bars and bearing definite relations to the widths of the characters carried by the bars, a spacing bar supported to be actuated by the heels of the type bars on movement of the bars in printing, said spacing bar being actuated to decrease bythe different contour forms of the heels, a vertically disposed swinging plate positioned adjacent to the escapement wheel, a stop cog carried by the plate engageable with the escapement wheel, a plate supported for sliding movement transversely of the swinging plate, a stop finger carried by the sliding plate for engagement with the escapement wheel, the stop finger engaging the escapement wheel when the stop cog is free of the escapement wheel and vice versa, and means for automatically moving the sliding plate when the stop finger thereof is in engagement with the escapement wheel a distance determined by the extent of movement imposed on the spacing bar as a type bar swings for printing.

4. A spacing mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for shifting the stop plate comprises a rock arm carried by the swinging plate and operatively connected with the stop plate, a swinging frame operating upon movement of the spacing bar, an arm carried by said last frame and engaging the rock arm upon swinging of the frame in one direction to move the stop plate away from the sliding plate, and means for constantly urging the stop plate toward the moving plate. 7

5. In a typewritting machine having a carriage-actuated rotatable escapement wheel and type bars pivotally supported for swinging movement, means for effecting the variable movement of the carriage in accordance with difierent widths of the characters carried by the bars comprising heels of' differing contours on the type bars and bearing definite relations to the widths of said characters, a universal spacing bar with which the heels of the type bars engage when the bars swing to typing position, said contours of the heels imparting movement t the universal spacing bar, a supporting structure positioned ad jacent to the escapement wheel, a swinging plate mounted on said supporting structure and having a stop cog engageable with the escapement wheel, a plate mounted for sliding movement transversely of the swinging plate and having a stop finger engageable with the escapement wheel, means for constantly urging the sliding plate in one direction to oppose rotation of the escapement wheel when the stop finger of the sliding plate is in engagement therewith and the stop cog of the swinging plate is free of the escapement wheel, a shiftable stop member carried by the swinging plate for selectively controlling the ex-- tent of such movement of the sliding plate, a

frame pivotally mounted on the supporting structure, an operative connection between the universal spacing bar and said frame for swinging the frame in one direction upon movement of the spacing bar by contact therewith of a contour of the heel of a type bar, and coacting means carried by the frame and the stop member for moving the stop member a distance determined by the extent of movement of the spacing bar to permit the sliding plate to have selected movement.

6. A spacing mechanism as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means for swinging the frame comprises arms pivotally connecting the spacing bar and the first frame.

'7. A spacing mechanism as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means for swinging the frame comprises arms pivotally connecting the spacing .bar and the first frame, a swinging frame positioned adjacent to the swinging plate and connected to the spacing bar for movement therewith, said swinging frame having a part for contact with the swinging plate upon movement of the frame in one direction to cause the swinging plate to move in unison with the frame, and automatic means for moving the frame in such direction.

8. The combination with a typewriting ma-.

chine including a bearing block, an upstanding supporting structure rearwardly of and paced from the block, and type bars pivotally supported by the bearing block for swinging movement; of means for effecting variable movements of the carriage in accordance with different widths of characters carried by the bars comprising heels of different contours on the type bars and bearing definite relations to the widths of said characters, a universal spacing bar positioned adjacent the bearing block for engagement by said heels on movement of the bars for printing, rearwardly disposed arms carried by the spacing bar, outstanding arms carried by the frame at the end thereof remote from the bearing block, the first named arms being pivotally connected with said second arms, a forwardly disposed part carried by said frame slidably engaging within the bearing block, a carriage-operated escapement wheel carried by the supporting structure, a swinging plate mounted on said supporting structure and having a stop cog to engage the escapement wheel upon movement of said swinging plate in one direction, a sliding plate carried by the swinging plate having a stop finger for engagement with the escapement wheel upon movement of the swinging plate in the opposite direction,

' a vertically disposed swinging frame carried by the supporting structure and with which the arms of the first frame are operatively engaged for swinging said second frame in unison with the movement of the first frame, means operated upon movement of the swinging plate in one direction to allow the sliding plate to move a selected distance in one direction, and means under control of the spacing bar as moved by contact of a contour of a heel therewith for determining the selected distance of travel of the sliding plate.

9. In a variable shift mechanism for a typewriter having a toothed escapement wheel for a movable platen carrying carriage, a spacing bar supported for reciprocatory movement, a swinging type bar having a heel and mounted for engagement of the heel with the spacing bar when the type bar is swung for a typing stroke, an oscillatably supported plate having an edge movable across the periphery of wheel,

two wheel engaging stops supported by the plate adjacent said edge for alternate engagement with the teeth of the wheel, one of said stops being movable toward and away from the other stop, the said other stop being normally in holding connection with a tooth of the wheel, movable means operatively coupled with the spacing bar to be moved thereby and for eifecting a predetermined shifting of the said one stop away from the other stop for regulating the extent of movement of the carriage, means for disengaging the said other stop from and engaging the said one stop with a tooth. of the wheel upon release of the shift bar by the type bar heel, and means for reengaging the said other stop with and. disengaging the said one stop from a tooth of the wheel after the wheel movement has been stopped by the said one stop.

10. A variable shift mechanism for a typewriter as set forth in claim 9, in which said type bar heel has two dissimilar portions for selective engagement with the spacing bar, the said spacing bar having up and down movement for selective engagement with the portions of a type bar heel, means for raising and lowering the spacing bar, the extent of movement of the said movable means and the degree of shifting the said one stop away from the other stop being determined by the character of the heel portion engaged against the spacing bar.

JAMES L. WEBB. 

